COCINAhttps://www.haiticocina.org
Coalition of Children in Need AssociationTue, 13 Feb 2018 01:35:35 +0000en-UShourly1A World of Differencehttps://www.haiticocina.org/a-world-of-difference/
Wed, 17 Jan 2018 22:52:54 +0000https://www.haiticocina.org/?p=3745As I sat in a booth at Chick-fil-A at Cleveland-Hopkins Airport at 5:30am, I glanced up to see a sign on the wall that read: I don’t shop because I need something. I just shop for shopping’s sake. – Cat … Continue reading →

As I sat in a booth at Chick-fil-A at Cleveland-Hopkins Airport at 5:30am, I glanced up to see a sign on the wall that read:

I don’t shop because I need something. I just shop for shopping’s sake. – Cat Deeley

I don’t know who Cat Deeley is, but as I was minutes away from boarding a plane headed for Haiti, this quote stood out to me in a BIG way.

A little about Haiti…

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. With a population of about 11,000,000 people, nearly 60% live on less than $2 a day. And, while I’ve seen varying numbers on unemployment, it is safe to say that only about 1/3 of men and women of normal working age have a “formal” job. Although it’s difficult to prove these numbers statistically on a regular basis (these numbers are mostly from 2015, https://haitipartners.org/haiti-statistics/), through my work with COCINA in Haiti I have now seen first-hand these details in action.

So, I read a quote like the above and think, “What in the world are we doing?”

According to CNN, American shoppers spent a record $5 billion online in the 24 hours that marked Black Friday 2017. Billion with a B. In 24 hours! And that’s just online sales; it does not include sales in malls, big box stores, or other retail stores.

In one day, Americans spent more money online shopping than THREE TIMES the national budget of Haiti.

This is not to say that my family is any different. We are going to Florida this year instead of buying any presents for our three kids (ages 12, 15, and 19) – a trade off to spend time together instead of getting them stuff they don’t really need just because it’s Christmas. At least that was the idea; it seems each day more gift-wrapped boxes appear all around our house.

Why is it that we have no trouble spending billions of dollars shopping for ourselves and others in a single day – and more than $1 trillion total (stat) over the course of the holiday season (roughly one to one-and-a-half months), and yet charitable giving throughout the entire year is only 40 percent of that number (stat)?

It’s like we don’t even pay attention.

When a child in a third-world country dies of malnutrition, we feel sorry for that child and his family. When a child in the US dies in a school shooting, we are angry that such a thing can happen. When a child in a neighboring city dies from an overdose, we are scared it could happen to our child. When a child in my neighborhood gets cancer and dies within a few months, we are saddened and do what we can to help. But, when our own child dies in an automobile accident, we are devastated and can hardly go on.

The result was the same in each situation: a child died. But our reaction to that result changes based on our relation or connection with that child. It’s sounds harsh, but a child in some country thousands of miles away is just another kid; MY child is different; when MY child hurts, I hurt.

The problem is…we are selfish.

If we weren’t selfish, we would be spending $1 trillion to help impoverished nations escape poverty.

If we weren’t selfish, we wouldn’t worry about the type of car we drive or the clothes we wear; we would give away everything we had other than the basics we need to survive.

If we weren’t selfish, nonprofit organizations would have to turn away donations of time and money.

If we weren’t selfish, EVERY child in Haiti (and every other country in the world) would have access to food, healthcare, and education.

Now, you’re either feeling angry or guilty.

Either you’re saying to yourself, “Dang, he’s right. I am selfish. Ugh…I should return that thing I bought this morning.” Or you’re saying, “I work for what I have and deserve the things I have; who is this guy to say I’m selfish?”

Whether you agree or not, it’s true. Sorry. To some degree, we are ALL selfish. We can justify, make excuses, argue all we want, but when it comes down to it, we choose self. Now, granted, we also all have moments of selflessness, but generally, we tend toward selfishness.

So, what now?

Seriously, though, we can’t change the fact that we are flawed human beings who would prefer self-preservation over self-sacrifice. It’s in our nature. But, what we CAN do is take steps to be “less selfish” and start moving outside of our comfort zone.

That could mean any number of things:

Let someone “cut in” when lanes are merging on the highway.

Do something nice for someone without them knowing.

Send a note of encouragement to someone who needs it.

Pay attention when people are talking to you (put your phone down!).

Buy someone else’s lunch instead of, or in addition to, your own.

Volunteer.

Say a prayer for the neighbor you don’t get along with.

Find a charitable organization (it doesn’t have to be this one) to support with your time and money.

Go through your closet and give away the stuff you haven’t worn in a year.

Smile more.

I started out telling the story about seeing that sign on the wall that said, “I don’t shop because I need something. I just shop for shopping’s sake.” For that entire week while I was in Haiti, that quote stuck in my head and I went back and forth about what that truly meant.

It came down to this: I am selfish. We are all selfish. But, I (and we) can do something about it. We can do what we can, with what we have, where we are. (Theodore Roosevelt)

We can’t beat ourselves up for being human. We can’t expect to be perfectly selfless. We can’t judge others for their selfishness.

We just have to do what we can, with what we have, where we are.

God does the rest.

]]>Go Behind the Scenes with COCINA’s Student Sponsorship Programhttps://www.haiticocina.org/go-behind-scenes-cocinas-student-sponsorship-program/
Wed, 08 Mar 2017 21:17:28 +0000https://www.haiticocina.org/?p=3611So, I thought it would be fun to share a little of what goes on “behind the scenes” with the Student Sponsorship Program. As of today, we’ve gathered photos and information on nearly 600 students – first, second, and third graders. … Continue reading →

As of today, we’ve gathered photos and information on nearly 600 students – first, second, and third graders. That may seem like a fairly simple task, right? I mean, in the States, there’s picture day each year and every student is already plugged into all kinds of school and district databases.

Not so in Haiti.

Each grade we’ve captured so far has four classes, each with around 45 to 50 students and one teacher (Yes…ONE teacher for 50 kids! All you teachers out there, can you imagine?!?).

Each time we start with a new class, it may seem like what you’d experience in the United States. A few students at a time come out of the class; I give them a number (a “Child ID” that helps us to connect a student’s information with his or her photo); and then I take two photos – one holding the number and one without.

And then the fun begins!

Once the photos are taken, the student takes his or her number to James Blanc (one of the many former IU graduates who have returned after attending college in the U.S.), and he goes through a series of questions:

What’s your name? (easy enough)

How old are you? (hmmm? not always positive)

What is your birth date? (often no idea!)

How many brothers and sisters do you have? (pretty straightforward)

How many people live with you at home? (we’ve seen up to 19 so far!)

And, James continues the questioning to find out their favorite color, favorite food, what they like about school, and more.

Meanwhile, the teacher has let out 10 more students to get their photos taken; and although it doesn’t take long to snap a couple photos, trying to extract favorite foods and “what do you want to be when you grow up?” takes quite a bit of time.

I speak very little Creole, which adds to the fun.

I’ve been learning bit by bit, but certainly haven’t mastered the language, so that allows me to “entertain” the students while they wait in line before sharing their answers with James. I ask their names (“Ki jan ou rele?”); they ask me what my name is; I ask them to help me count by telling me what their number is in Creole. And we go back and forth a few times – them not understanding me, and me not understanding them! It’s a blast!

And then there are the “posers!”

I don’t know where they get it, but they sure know what it means to play to the camera. Whether I’m walking down the hall or I’m getting their official photo for the Sponsorship Program, they ham it up!

The boys throw up “duces” (two fingers in the air) and the girls assume the hands-on-hips-head-tilted position!

When we complete a class, we end up with around 50 photos of beautiful, joy-filled children who are just like my kids and yours, except when they leave school, many of them won’t have a meal until the next day at school; most of them live in a home where the financial provider makes less than $5 US per day; and ALL of them are on the positive side of the 50 percent of children in Haiti who even attend school. (Statistics)

If you are able, just $40 a month can help us continue to provide an award-winning education, a daily hot meal, and access to much-needed medical care for more than 2,500 students. Click here if you’d like to sponsor a child in Haiti. Thank you.

]]>Meet James Blanc, 2010 IU Graduatehttps://www.haiticocina.org/meet-james-blanc-2010-iu-graduate/
Fri, 24 Feb 2017 14:49:27 +0000https://www.haiticocina.org/?p=3598Below is the fourth in a series of articles highlighting some of the graduates of Institution Univers who, through the support of COCINA and its partners, went on to study beyond IU and have now returned to Ouanaminthe and Univers to … Continue reading →

Below is the fourth in a series of articles highlighting some of the graduates of Institution Univers who, through the support of COCINA and its partners, went on to study beyond IU and have now returned to Ouanaminthe and Univers to fulfill their commitment of giving back to the community they came from.

Meet James Blanc…

When did you start at IU?

Did others in your family attend IU or another school? Or were you the first?

I was the first to attend, then my younger brother joined the school three years later.

Where did you go to college/university?

University of Kentucky

What did you study? What degree did you get?

Plant and Soil Science/Animal Science

When and Why did you return to Univers to begin working?

I returned to Haiti in December 2015. I started working at Univers September 2016. I returned to Haiti because there is no place like home. I wanted to give back to a community that I love and to a country that needs me and my expertise.

What do you love most about your work at Univers?

The fact that I’m giving back to a school that gave me a lot. I love teamwork. It feels good during your first day of work, no one needs to show you where the bathroom is because you were already part of the family.

What is your hope for Haiti?

I hope to see a better Haiti where more children can have access to school, food, all the basic needs. I hope we will have political stability for the next five years so the next president, freshly elected, can deliver all his promises. Being able to attract investors to create jobs will be key.

What do you think is the greatest need in Ouanaminthe/Haiti?

We can’t talk about investment and development without electricity. Electricity is the biggest need. Right now we have less than four hours of consistent electricity each day.

James’ success can be connected directly back to his education and spiritual guidance from Institution Univers. Want to help a student gain that same benefit? Donate today – just $40/month can help cover the cost of a student to attend IU.

]]>How a “Pair” of Shoes Can Tell a Life Storyhttps://www.haiticocina.org/pair-shoes-can-tell-life-story/
Mon, 23 Jan 2017 16:26:24 +0000https://www.haiticocina.org/?p=3542(This post is written by our Director of Development & Sponsorships, Matt White) Back in September 2016, I took on a part-time role with Coalition of Children in Need Association (COCINA) as the Director of Development & Sponsorships, and I’ve spent … Continue reading →

as well as other efforts in the city of Ouanaminthe (pronounced “Wah-nah-minth”) in the northeast part of Haiti

So far, most of my time in Haiti has been dedicated to establishing (and today launching) our Student Sponsorship Program, which has involved taking photos and gathering information from hundreds of elementary school children. Each time I’m there, I always seem to capture at least one photo that really tugs at my heart and reminds me WHY I’m doing what I’m doing – and what COCINA is doing overall – in Haiti. Usually, it’s a particular “selfie” of me and a few of the children, or a sweet image of some of the kids gathered together making faces for the camera.

But, when I was there a couple weeks ago, I got a picture that truly captures the basic life story of almost every child at Institution Univers (IU) – and likely every child at ANY school in Haiti. All the photos we take typically show what appears to be a relatively vibrant, healthy young child, one that’s happy, or at least content, with life.

However, what this image represents is the dichotomy of the reality in Haiti:

The environment these kids experience at school is drastically different than what they know outside of school.

As you can see in this photo, this young boy – while wearing his required school uniform of khakis, white shirt, and tie – has on his feet one shoe and one flip-flop. The shoe looks to be a girl’s style and the flip-flop is so worn, the heel is practically non-existent.

Most of the students at IU live their lives outside of school in small, one- or two-bedroom “homes” where breakfast and dinner are often a luxury, and sharing that home with 6, 8, or 10 other family members – from brothers and sisters to aunts, uncles and grandmas – is the norm. And, in a country where 80 percent of the population is below the poverty line and more than two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs, their families are often barely just surviving. (2016 Stats)

A picture is worth a thousand words

Of the many pictures I’ve taken in Haiti, this image of the boy and his “pair” of shoes has had the most impact. It’s hard to see beyond the cute kids in uniforms sometimes; it’s difficult to explain the hardships and the poverty when, as Americans, we naturally relate uniforms to private schools and money.

However, in this one image, I think the aphorism, “A picture is worth a thousand words” is absolutely applicable here. Actually, I’m not even sure a thousand words is enough.

Our goal with the COCINA Student Sponsorship Program is not to dramatize with photos of extreme poverty and desperation (although there is plenty of that in Ouanaminthe), but rather to represent to potential sponsors the joy and the opportunity that is available to these kids through the school and its many programs.

You can help.

Sponsoring a child for just $40/month makes a very personal and highly significant difference in a child’s life. Click here to learn more: Child Sponsorship in Haiti

Please share this post.

I realize not everyone who reads this is in a place to sponsor a child; but you may know someone who is. Please consider sharing this blog post with your friends, family, and coworkers.

]]>Meet Marie-Claire Charles, 2009 IU Graduatehttps://www.haiticocina.org/meet-marie-claire-charles-2009-iu-graduate/
Wed, 11 Jan 2017 00:05:28 +0000https://www.haiticocina.org/?p=3512 Below is the third in a series of articles highlighting some of the graduates of Institution Univers who, through the support of COCINA and its partners, went on to study beyond IU and have now returned to Ouanaminthe and … Continue reading →

Below is the third in a series of articles highlighting some of the graduates of Institution Univers who, through the support of COCINA and its partners, went on to study beyond IU and have now returned to Ouanaminthe and Univers to fulfill their commitment of giving back to the community they came from.

We’ve begun to ask each of the returning graduates now working for Univers a series of questions that we hope will allow you to learn not only about their past, but about their hopes for the future, in their own words.

Meet Marie-Claire Charles…

When did you start at IU?

I started at IU in 2002, in 7th grade.

Did others in your family attend IU or another school? Or were you the first?

I was the first to attend IU, and my younger brother entered IU two years later, then my younger cousin.

Where did you go to college/university?

I went to college in Pennsylvania, USA. I graduated from Millersville University.

What did you study? What degree did you?

My major was International Studies with a minor in Business Administration. I graduated with a Bachelors of Arts.

When and Why did you return to Univers to begin working?

I returned to Univers in June 2014. I came back to Univers first to honor the contract that I had signed. Second – knowing that I would come back to IU was my sponsors’ motivation to support me, and I wanted to also honor that. Third – working at IU is, for me, a way to show my gratitude to the school and all its supporters.

What do you love most about your work at Univers?

What I love the most about my work at Univers is the sense of belonging that I feel here.

What is your hope for Haiti?

Without going into details, I hope for Haiti to have good schools and universities that form real and good leaders for the country, and to see an educated people that is able to consciously choose who its leaders are.

What do you think is the greatest need in Ouanaminthe/Haiti?

It is difficult to pick out the greatest need in a place that has so many basic needs, but I believe that education is the greatest need in Ouanaminthe and in Haiti. We need colleges and universities.

Marie-Claire’s success can be connected directly back to her education and spiritual guidance from Institution Univers. Want to help a student gain that same benefit? Donate today – just $40/month can help cover the cost of a student to attend IU.

]]>The Impossible IUhttps://www.haiticocina.org/the-impossible-iu/
Mon, 09 Jan 2017 22:23:57 +0000https://www.haiticocina.org/?p=3502Making the Impossible, Possible. What happens here sometimes seems “impossible,” like it literally SHOULDN’T be happening because of what we’re in the middle of – one of the worst economic situations in the world, a staggering unemployment rate, and literacy … Continue reading →

What happens here sometimes seems “impossible,” like it literally SHOULDN’T be happening because of what we’re in the middle of – one of the worst economic situations in the world, a staggering unemployment rate, and literacy far below the world’s standards.

But…it IS happening! Here’s a glimpse into a day at Institution Univers.

]]>Battling Hunger in Haitihttps://www.haiticocina.org/battling-hunger-haiti/
Fri, 06 Jan 2017 03:07:59 +0000https://www.haiticocina.org/?p=3506What We’re Doing to Battle Hunger in Haiti COCINA’s lunch program feeds 3,000 people per day, and the Bread4Haiti bakeries provide nutritious breads and pizza to the Ouanaminthe community. Through these programs and the help of our supporters, COCINA is … Continue reading →

COCINA’s lunch program feeds 3,000 people per day, and the Bread4Haiti bakeries provide nutritious breads and pizza to the Ouanaminthe community. Through these programs and the help of our supporters, COCINA is battling malnutrition and hunger in Haiti.

]]>Meet Emmanuel Joseph, 2009 IU Graduatehttps://www.haiticocina.org/meet-emmanuel-joseph-2009-iu-graduate/
Tue, 06 Dec 2016 17:29:31 +0000https://www.haiticocina.org/?p=3434 Below is the second in a series of articles highlighting some of the graduates of Institution Univers who, through the support of COCINA and its partners, went on to study beyond IU and have now returned to Ouanaminthe and Univers … Continue reading →

Below is the second in a series of articles highlighting some of the graduates of Institution Univers who, through the support of COCINA and its partners, went on to study beyond IU and have now returned to Ouanaminthe and Univers to fulfill their commitment of giving back to the community they came from.

We’ve begun to ask each of the returning graduates now working for Univers a series of questions that we hope will allow you to learn not only about their past, but about their hopes for the future, in their own words.

Meet Emmanuel Joseph…

When did you start at IU?

I started at IU in seventh grade in 2002

Did others in your family attend IU or another school? Or were you the first?

I was the first one in my family to attend IU. Then in 2005 my younger brother, David Joseph, joined the big IU family. He graduated in 2012.

Where did you go to college/university?

I went to college in Kentucky. I attended Big Sandy Community and Technical College and Alice Lloyd College.

What did you study? What degree did you get?

Biology/Premed and Sociology

When and Why did you return to Univers to begin working?

I returned to Haiti in 2014, right after graduation and in the midst of the passing of my beloved mother. I have returned to work at IU in order to honor an agreement I signed, but most importantly to give back to IU, my community, and my home country.

What do you love most about your work at Univers?

I love the fact I work in a Christian environment where I can count on my colleagues for prayer and godly support. That makes my job enjoyable.

What is your hope for Haiti?

My hope for my Haiti is to see godly, educated, responsible, honest, and wise men rise up someday to lead the country. I pray for a day when the children and all my fellow citizens will not have to struggle anymore for some of the most basic needs such as clean drinking water, food, healthcare, and education.

What do you think is the greatest need in Ouanaminthe/Haiti?

In my opinion, the greatest need in Haiti is good leadership and financial resources. If these two major factors are met in Haiti, many other problems the country faces will be solved and therefore progressive prosperity will begin. There is still hope for Haiti. Hope for a new day. Hope to break the chain of poverty. We Haitians are the hallmarks of hope of our country. I am so thankful for the generous friends and supporters of COCINA who are diligently assisting us in cultivating that hope in Haiti.

Emmanuel Joseph’s success can be connected directly back to his education and spiritual guidance from Institution Univers. Want to help a student gain that same benefit? Donate today – just $40/month can help cover the cost of a student to attend IU.

]]>Election Feverhttps://www.haiticocina.org/election-fever/
Tue, 29 Nov 2016 16:11:13 +0000https://www.haiticocina.org/?p=3423(The following is written by James Blanc, a 2010 graduate of Institution Univers) Haitians Elect a New President Election is a formal decision-making process by which individuals choose someone to hold a position. Elections are held in every democratic country. … Continue reading →

]]>(The following is written by James Blanc, a 2010 graduate of Institution Univers)

Haitians Elect a New President

Election is a formal decision-making process by which individuals choose someone to hold a position. Elections are held in every democratic country. As soon as somebody mentions democracy, he indirectly talks about elections, because that’s how people exercise power by freely electing representatives among themselves.

Three weeks ago, Americans were called to freely elect people they want to govern their country and move forward. On Sunday, November 20, it was Haiti’s turn. Haitians were called to vote for their 55th president and 16 senators. The election to elect a president in the country was supposed to be held more than a year ago, and the first round of elections did happen on October 25, 2015, with 54 candidates on the ballot. Unfortunately, after the result was announced by the electoral college, which placed Jovenel Moise, a native of our region and entrepreneur, in first position, and Jude Celestin, an engineer, in second position, the opposing parties claimed the elections were full of fraud and irregularities in several voting center. They rallied to ask to cancel the elections and they wanted the election to be rerun with a new government, as they think the government at the time was favoring one candidate Jovenel Moise.

The second round was supposed to be between Jude Celestin and Jovenel Moise before February 7th 2016 to replace President Martelly who was ending his term. It never happened as Jude Celestine and the opposing parties refused to participate. President Martelly left power by completing his term in February 2016, and a new transitional government took power with former senator Jocelerme Privert as president.

The new government created a special commission to investigate the frauds claimed by the opposing parties in the previous election. Although, after two weeks, the commission shared their report and asked to cancel the whole thing and rerun the presidential election. However, they recommended to keep the senators and house representatives who were elected in the same election they claimed was full of fraud. Anyway, the country lost $100 millions.

The election was set to be rerun in October, but due to the recent problems related to Hurricane Matthew, the government finally held the election on November 20, 2016. People went to vote peacefully for a president and a senator in each region. Everything went well overall. International and national media reported it could be the best election to ever organize in Haiti. They complimented the national police officers for their hard work, the government and the electoral college board. Several reports are saying only 30% of the people went to vote.

After the election, the suspense is on.

Political parties and supporters soon claimed victory, but only the electoral college is allowed to give the final result. The results were expected to be released after eight days, according to the electoral college; but the Haitian press has been reporting that nothing would be changed from the last election, and that Jovenel Moise would keep his first place and Jude Celestin would be second.

As of yesterday, November 28, the Miami Herald announced preliminary results showing that Jovenel Moise did, in fact, win again.

In my opinion, the president-elect has to realize the job will not be easy. He will not be able to govern alone and face the problems alone. We will need everybody: Haitians, the politicians, and the NGOs need to work together to improve the lives of our people.

A renewed faith in our leadership is hopefully something good that can come out of this election.

]]>Meet Hantz-Jerry Pierre – 2009 IU Graduatehttps://www.haiticocina.org/meet-hantz-jerry-pierre-2009-iu-graduate/
Fri, 04 Nov 2016 19:22:35 +0000https://www.haiticocina.org/?p=3393 We are excited to start highlighting some of the graduates of Institution Univers who, through the support of COCINA and its partners, went on to study beyond IU and have now returned to Ouanaminthe and Univers to fulfill their … Continue reading →

We are excited to start highlighting some of the graduates of Institution Univers who, through the support of COCINA and its partners, went on to study beyond IU and have now returned to Ouanaminthe and Univers to fulfill their commitment of giving back to the community they came from.

One of our first returning graduates was Hantz-Jerry Pierre. We asked Hantz-Jerry a few questions so you could get to know him. We hope this question and answer format will allow you to learn not only about his past, but about his hopes for the future, in his own words…

Meet Hantz-Jerry Pierre…

When did you start at IU?

September 2001

Did/Do others in your family attend IU or another school? Or were you the first?

Yes. I have others in my family who attended IU. I have cousins, they are my family.

Where did you go to college/university?

I went to Big Sandy Community College in Prestonsburg, Kentucky from 2009 – 2011, then transferred to University of Virginia’s College at Wise.

What did you study? What degree did you get?

Business Administration, 4 years

When and why did you return to Univers to begin working?

I started working at IU in June 2013. I returned because returning was the right thing to do. Coming back and working in my country for me is the nicest thing that could happen and also I was excited to work at Univers. I couldn’t wait to come back.

What do you love most about your work at Univers?

What I love most about my work at Univers is the leader I am to the kids. To the students and employees, I am an example and the fruit of what Univers has been working since its foundation in 1994.

What is your hope for Haiti?

My hope for Haiti is to see one day that we won’t be dependent on other countries to provide for our every need. I hope to see a Haiti that has all the essential resources a human needs to survive like drinking water, electricity everywhere, paved roads and also a better management of public transportation, a great improvement in the way we do agriculture. I want to see a Haiti that does not only import goods, but also does a lot of exporting such coffee beans, bananas, sugar, mangoes, etc. I want to see a country where people can afford to eat, can afford to send their children to school, a country where parents can provide for their children. I want to see a Haiti that is respected everywhere. I want to see a Haiti that is run by people who care for the country, for the Haitian people.

What do you think is the greatest need in Ouanaminthe/Haiti?

“Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day. Teach a Man To Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime”

This Chinese proverb is what I want to see realized in Haiti, in Ouanaminthe. Most people out of the country donating to Haiti just keep feeding us instead of helping or showing us how to build infrastructure that can help us produce what we need. Haiti needs people or businesses to come and invest in things we need, not useless things that will make them become richer. Education in Haiti needs to be revitalized so we can allow our Haitian kids to have a better education, which will not only be good for Haiti but everywhere in the world. I want our education system to have the same value that the American or the French education system would have in another country.

Hantz-Jerry’s success can be connected directly back to his education and spiritual guidance from Institution Univers. Want to help a student gain that same benefit? Donate today – just $40/month can help cover the cost of a student to attend IU.